GREAT WHITE front man Jack Russell, a native of Montebello, California, chose to release his first solo album 'Shelter Me' during 1996, a less Bluesier affair than the type of albums the man had been recording with his main act. With GREAT WHITE, Russell's distinctive tones had led the band to platinum status in the USA. Assisting Russell in the studio on his debut was his GREAT WHITE colleague guitarist Michael Lardie, veteran VANILLA FUDGE bassist TIM BOGERT and erstwhile PAT BENATAR drummer Myron Grombacher.

Following the break up of GREAT WHITE in late 2001 Russell once more set to work on solo material. The 'For You' album, co-produced by ex-MEAT LOAF guitarist Bob Kulick and Billy Sherwood, would be issued by Knight Records (who oddly claimed it was the singer's debut) in the USA and Ulftone Music for Europe in August. The first 2000 copies were autographed by the man himself. Russell's high calibre session band for this outing comprised KING CRIMSON bassist Tony Levin, keyboard player Michael Sherwood along with FRANK ZAPPA and STING drummer Vinnie Colaiuta.

Touring North America in November and December the singer hit the road billed as JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE heading up a band comprising guitarists Mark Kendall and Ty Longley, bassist David Filice, keyboard player Yuko Tamura and drummer Eric Powers. Response to these shows was such that the band, re-billed as GREAT WHITE FEATURING JACK RUSSELL & MARK KENDALL, projected further dates into February. Tragically these dates were curtailed by the Rhode Island fire disaster in which 99 people, including guitarist Ty Longley, died.

Russell featured on the VAN HALEN song 'Unchained' included on the tribute album '80s Metal Tribute To Van Halen' released by Deadline Records in September 2006. In October Russell vocalised on a cover version of the JOURNEY classic 'Any Way You Want It' featured on the Cleopatra Records homage collection '80s Metal Tribute To Journey'.